Improvement in grain-binders



UNITED S'I'A'rns PATENT OFFICEJ FRANCIS w. RANDALL, 'OF 'rEKoNsHA-. MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN GRAIN-BINDERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. B 10,49, dated December 27, 1870; antedated December 17, 'l-370. A

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, FRANCIS .W. BAN- DALL, of Tekonsha, in the county of Calhoun and State ot' Michigan, have invented a new and useful Improved Automatic Baker and Binder: and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear,.and exact description thereof, sufficient to enable those skilled in the art to which my invention appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, and in which- Figure l is a perspective view, showing the upper side Aof the platform with the raking apparatus. Fig-2 is an inverted plan view, showing the binding mechanism. Fig. 3 is a detail view, to be hereinafter referred to; and Figs. 4 and 5 are views of the knot with which the binding-cord of the sheaf is tied.

My invention consists in the construction, arrangement, and combination of parts, as hereinafter described, connected with a reaperplatform, for automatically raking the cut grain and 'binding the sheaves with cord of twine tied in a tight knot.

I will now proceed to describe the raking mechanism, which is visible'above the platform.

Referring to the drawings, wherein similar letters indicate like parts in the several lig ures, A represents the reaper-platform, which is shown out of proportion, for want of space. B is a cogged pulley mounted on a standard xed in the platform, and B is a similar pulley on a vertical shaft, t', turning in a bracket, f, attached to the platform A. E is a rock-bar, turning in bearings in brackets F F attached to the platform. The rake-head is formed with a hollow elongated bearing, b, through which passes loosely the guide-rod or rockshaft E. The rake 1s thus allowed a movement back and forth over the platform, but it is made to rise and fall as the rock-shaft E turns, which can be effected by making the said rock-shaft and the bearing b angular in cross-section, or by a spline and groove in a round rod and bearing. The backward and forward motion of the rake is effected as follows: The toothed pulleys B B carry an endless gear-chain, U, to which is attached a dog, o. As the pulleys B B are rotated (by means of gearing to be hereinafter described) the dog c comes alternately in contact with pins p p attached to the rake-head on opposite sides of the bearing b. The shaft i of the cogged pulley7 B is lprovided with a beveled pinion, which engages with a corresponding gear-wheel, W', Fig. 2, on the main shaft A situated below the platform, and driven by means of a crank or otherwise. m represents a tilting rod, which is made in about the form shown and rigidly attached `to the guiderod E. This tilting rod is traversed by a roller, n, on the end of the rake-head. g is a stationary guide-bar fixed at its ends to the platformand formed with an incline, which when mounted by the roller n causes the rake to fall into working position on the platform. upper guide-rod, g, may be attached to the bracket F, above the highest part of the guide g, to prevent the premature descent of the rake. The rocking motion ofthe guiderod E is effected through the medium of a cord or flexible wire, w, which connects the head ofthe tilting device m with a lever, L, pivoted -to the under side of the platform, and operated by contact with a cam, y, on the face of wheel W. (See Fig. 2.) The cord or wire w passes through an eye in the post P attached to the platform.

The operation of the rake is as follows We will suppose the rake to be at the beginning of the stroke, that is, at the opposite end ofthe platform from that which it occupies in Fig. l. The machinery being set in motion, the dog c on the endless chain comes in contact with the pin p and thus carries the rake forward, with the gavel, to the binding apparatus, the roller n of the rake-head traversing the inner. side of the arm m, as represented in Fig. l. At this juncture, the outer end of the lever L being suddenly depressed by the action of cam y, the rod E, with the rigid arm m, will be partially rotated by means of the connection fw, thereby raising the rake from the platform and tilting it over backward just in time for the dog c to catch the pinp on the rake-head and run' the rake back in its tilted position to the starting-point, the roller n traveling on the guide g and mounting its incline, thereby throwing the rake forward Onto the platform, the premature descent of the rake being prevented by the guide g.

I will now proceed to describe the binding A short.

mechanism, beginning with devices whereby front of the platform. The lever C2 isconthe binding-twine is passed around the sheaf nected with the bar a at its rear end, and or gavel, which mechanism is shown in Fig. 1, thus, by the action of the tappet l1 on the being situated above the platform. S H is a shaft A against a projection on the rod R, crank-shaft, mounted in bearings in standards the hooked end of the bar a is projected be- G G attache-d to the platform. To -the crank yond the end of thetying-cylinder to seize the H is hung the curved cord-carrier J, which I endsofthe band-twine, which are then clamped denominate a needle. This cord-carrier has between the hook a and the cylinder by the an eye near its lower end, through which expansion of the spring 2 encircling the tying passes the bindingtwinefrorn the spool, which c5 linder between the head of the cylinder and is mounted on the bracket G. The cord-carthe collar R of the bar a. l It is understood, rier is guided by passing through a bearing of course, that this spring 2 is compressed in a bent bar, I, secured to the platform. This when the lever C2 is moved forward. Q is a bearing is situated at about the center of the Springbar, attached at one end to the platpath of the rake, and lis sufficiently high from form and having a notch near its opposite ex- I the platform to allow the gavel `to be raked tremity, which catches over the bar a. and under it. The rake-head is bent at w to make holds the tying-cylinder steady during the room for the needle. On the end ofthe shaft time the pinion p is out of gear with the e S H is an arm, c', and this is connected, by wheel D. means of a rod, r, with the crank c of a T" is aiiat bar,which has a reciprocating shaft, s, which has its bearings in the bracket movementV` in bearings z z attached to the un- Gand the post of the arm I. The shaft s is der side of the platformfthe movement being provided with a pinion which engages suceffected by-means of a crank-connection, o' c", cessively with toothed portions e on the face with the shaft A. L is a curved lever, pivof a gear-Wheel, D. This wheel D gears with oted to the bar T and vibrated by a tappet, 4,

a pinion, e, on the shaft z', and receives its on the shaft A. x is an offset at the short end motion-therefrom. By the engagement of the of the lever L', which is connected with a pinion on the shaft s with the separated sespring, l, secured to an arm, T, extending from I riesof teeth e', an intermittent motion is imthe bar T. The spring l passes through a parted to the crank-shaft S H, whereby the. staple on a bar, T, which hase longitudinal point of the cord-carrier is depressed through movement in the bearingz independent of the an opening in the platform and held there movement of the bar T, which movement is during the tying of the band and then eleeffected by means of the tappet 4, lever L', vated to receive a fresh gavel. and spring l. w is an arm attached to the I will now describe the construction and bearing z and extending over the lever L to arrangement of the parts shown in Fig. 2, keep inin place. On the bar T is a projecwhereby the end of the band which encircles tion, u', between which and the contiguous the gavel is clamped, the twine next the spool end of the bar T the end of the binding-twine is secured to maintain the connection for formfrom the spool is secured. ing other bands, the twine is cut, the* knot K represents the knife, having a bent-down tied, and the bound sheaf discharged. Preportion, which has its bearing in a bracket, 4 vious to describing the devices I will say that a7, attached to the platform.` This ben t-down they are usually mounted 4on abed which may portion is stepped in the platform, and has be adjustably secured to the reaper-platform, attached to it an arm, a", which is connected r and the operating parts are incased to prowith the bent bar 212. This latter is provided tect them from dust and injury. After dewith a projection, 12, and the shaft A has a scribing the construction and arrangement of tappet, 7, which, acting against said prothe parts, adescription of theiroperation will jection, moves the bar 'zu forward. The rei be given. The operating parts all receive turn-motion of the bar zu and the cutting their motion from the main shaft A. motion of the knife are caused by a spring, 8. `A is a shaft arranged at right angles to (Shown clearly in Fig. 2.) This knife cuts the the shaft A', and receiving motion therefrom twine, leaving the ends of the band clamped by means of the beveled gear-wheels B Bf. to the cylinder ready for the tying of the knot. M, Figs. 2 and 3, represents the tying-cyl- The mechanism for tying the knot is as inder, fitted to turn in bearings attached to follows: the platform and receiving an intermittent ro- U is a tube passingV loosely through the tary motion from the shaft A by means of a tying-cylinder and connected at its rear end wheel, D', thereon gearing with the pinion with arod, r2, which has its bearings in the p on the cylinder M, only a portion of the sides n' n of a rectangular frame attached to periphery of the wheel D being toothed. a a rod, N, and guided in a bracket, be, secured represents a bar working through a slot in the to the under side of the platform. The motion front part of the tyingcylinder. This bar has of the rod N and attached frame from the a hook at the front end, and at its rear extying-cylinder is effected by the action of a' tremity is bent so as to encircle the tying-cylcam, 9, on the shaft'A against the end of the inder. C2 is a lever, pivoted at y2 to the platrod, and the motion in the opposite direction form and jointed to a rod, R, the front end is caused by the action of an offset, p12, of the of which slides through a guide, z', at the cam 9 on an arm of a bell-crank lever, E,piv

oted to a bracket, Z', and connected with the rod N by a rod, R'.

represents one portion of a right-angular iron centrally pivoted to the bed. This device is operated by means of prongs 13 14 attached to the rear bar n" of the rectangular frame n' a", the prongs acting on the part l of the angle-iron which is between them. The motion of the angle-iron is limited by means of a pin fixed in the platform on each side of that part of the iron which is at right angles to the leg l. The end of that leg of the angle-iron which corresponds to the part l is bent up so as to stop the backward movement of the tube U, for a purpose to be hereinafter described. b' is a rod fitted to slide in bearin gs in the rectangular frame attached to the rod N, and having a notch in its upper side to receive the rod 1'", which is also notched, as shown. This rod b' is made to engage with the rod r" by means of a spring at one side, as shown, and the disengagement iseffected by the projecting end o of the rod b' coming in contact with an arm, Y, attached to the bed.

V represents the looping-rod, which passes loosely through the tube U, and has a hook at its forward extremityv to form the loop. This rod is secured to the rear bar of the rectangular frame a' n", as shown in Fig. 3, and therefrom receives its motion.

F' is a bar, pointed at .93, and moved back and forth in its bearings by tappets 5 6 on the main shaft acting against projections t2 1.3 on the bar F'. This device is seen clearly in Fig. 3. Its office is to hold the ends of the band-twine against the tube U, for a purpose to be presently explained. 'A spring, a4, presses laterally against the bar F to render it steady.

The kind of knot which these tying devices form is represented in Fig. 4 before the ends of the double twine have been drawn through the loop. Fig. 5 shows the knot drawn tight. This knot resembles the overhand knot," but is made with double twine and reversed looping.

The operation is as follows: Sufcient binding-twine having been wound on the spool, the loose end is passed through the guidehole in the arm I next the needle-bar bearing and through the needle-eye, and thence through an opening in the platform A to the hookjaws of the bars T and T", where it is sprung inl by hand when the bars are on the full deadcenter on the side shown in Fig. 2. The needle is now up. When the rake, operated from the reaper, as hereinbefore described, rakes the cut grain against the binding-twine below the needle-eye, said grain forces the twine back past the needlepoint, unwinding it from the spool, (which should have a proper tension.) The needle then descends, as previously explained, passing the twine over the sheaf, and the rake tilts upward, and is carried back on the rod E for another gavel. The band-twine is now clamped to the tying-cylinder ata'. This clamp is opened at the proper time to catch the band-twine by means lof tapfrom the tappet by the'action of spring 2. The twine next the spool is then transferred to and secured between the hook-jaws, and the whole cut ofi` ready for tying the knot.

This transfer is effected as follows: The needle-bar is recessed on one side near the end and above .the eye to enable the pointed hook of the bar T"- to hook onto the band-twine on that side of the needle, and when the lever L', by its impingement on tappet 4, has drawn back the spring-bar T', the tension draws the twine down the incline of the hook between the two jaws, where 'it is firmly secured, and thus when the band is cut the original connection of the twine from the spool is automatically renewed on the formation of each band. The hook-jaw bars are now at rest, while the crank G' is passing its opposite deadcenter, and a cam-projection on shaft A" lifts the catch Q, and the cylinder begins to revolve by reason of the teeth of the wheel D engaging with its pinion p". At this time the end of the tube U protrudes through the cylinder beyond its head, and the clamped band-endsand the looping-rod protrude beyond the end of the tube, as shown in section, Fig. 3. When the cylinder revolve; it carries the clamped ends of the band about one and three-fourths times around the tube, but while the twines are being thus wound another agent comes into play, viz, the finger-bar F', actuated by the tappets 5 and 6. The duty of this bar is to follow up the winding cord',- and by means of its tapering point hold the same firmly against the tube. During this winding movement the coupling-rod w" of the tube is locked by the spring-bar b' tothe link-frame, and the tube and loopingrod are pushed bygthe cam g slowly into thecylinder untilthe motion of the tube is arrested by striking against one arm ofthe angle-iron l. At this time, and .when the cylinder has made about threefourths of a turn, the interception of the finger, s3 causes the clamped ends of the band to be looped into the notch of the looping-rod V, and the coupling-rod r" being unlocked from the link-frame by the impingement of the locking-bar b' against the cam-stud Y, the tube is held stationary by the angle-iron, while the liberated looping-rod V, moving ,with the link-frame, draws the ends of the band-twine through the loop and completes the knot; for the parts are so arranged that when the bandtwine is looped over the coil the tappet 11 opens the clamping-jaws a' and liberatesthe ends of the band. One of the prongs at W has now reached the angle-iron'and swung it so as to clear the .end of the tube, and the tube andthe looping-rod advance still farther to extricate themselves from the knot, when the side pin p12 of the cam g engages with the bell-crank lever E' and restores the tube and rod to their first positions, ready to tie the next band. Ofcourse the knot is pushed out andthe next gavel raked against the needletwine pushes the bound sheaf oi` of the platform. `As with other devices for raking and binding grain, a c1utch-coupling `under the control of the driver `of the reaper should be provided, to throw the automatic apparatus temporarily out of gear to permit backing, and to accommodate its action in conformity with the crop.

I claim as my invention- 1. The reciprocating hook-barl and sliding jaw T', in combination with a vibrating needle-bar, carrying the binding-twine and the spring-clamp a', operated in connection with the tying-cylinder M, the several parts and for the purpose set forth.

2. The knife K, actuated as described, in combination with the clamping devices a. and T T", the several parts being arranged to operate substantially as described.

3. The tying-cylinder M, rotating intermittently and provided with springclaxnp a', in combination with the inclosed sliding tube U, looping-rod V, and finger-bar F, said tube and rod having a differential and simultaneous movement imparted to them by means of the link-frame, as described, the scveralparts being arranged to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth. y

FRANCIS W. RANDALL.

Witnesses: WM. L. RAYMENL- l 1 U. W. OsBoRN. l l 

